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    We Always Had Wings

    Author Jess X. Snow
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    Hardcover
    $18.99 US
    RH Childrens Books | Make Me a World
    10.38"W x 10.31"H x 0.37"D   | 16 oz | 24 per carton
    On sale Dec 23, 2025 | 32 Pages | 9780593428511
    Age 4-8 years | Preschool - 3
    Reading Level: Lexile 620L | Fountas & Pinnell O
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    A stunning, mythology-inspired ode to the places and people who came before us as a girl embarks on her first visit to her mother's hometown in China for Lunar New Year.

    Little Snow can't remember the last time she was on an airplane, and is afraid of the long journey from her big city to the vast Chinese countryside Mama comes from. To soothe her nerves, Mama tells Little Snow the story of how their ancestors travelled before borders and countries existed—flying through the skies as cranes. What follows is a tender story of reconnecting with family during the holidays and remembering the magic of who you are in this gorgeous picture book debut from author-illustrator Jess X. Snow.
    "Young readers will understand Snow’s message viscerally, while adults will appreciate the political implications....A relatable vision of immigration that takes flight." —Kirkus Reviews

    "A mythic tale that celebrates ­Chinese North American heritage and culture....Snow’s cinematic ­vision is mesmerizing." —School Library Journal

    "[A] visually stunning solo picture book debut." —Publishers Weekly

    "An uplifting picture-book debut about intrinsic connections, both past and present." —Booklist
    Jess X. Snow (they/them) is a non-binary Asian Canadian artist, film director, and Pushcart-nominated poet whose work explores migration, surrealism, environmental justice, and intimacies across cultures and species. Their short films have screened in dozens of festivals across five continents. They are working to build a future where diasporic people of color see themselves on the big screen, city walls, and pages of children's books. By merging community arts activism, healing practices, and cinema in their stories, Jess hopes to encourage others to discover sanctuaries inside themselves. View titles by Jess X. Snow

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    About

    A stunning, mythology-inspired ode to the places and people who came before us as a girl embarks on her first visit to her mother's hometown in China for Lunar New Year.

    Little Snow can't remember the last time she was on an airplane, and is afraid of the long journey from her big city to the vast Chinese countryside Mama comes from. To soothe her nerves, Mama tells Little Snow the story of how their ancestors travelled before borders and countries existed—flying through the skies as cranes. What follows is a tender story of reconnecting with family during the holidays and remembering the magic of who you are in this gorgeous picture book debut from author-illustrator Jess X. Snow.

    Praise

    "Young readers will understand Snow’s message viscerally, while adults will appreciate the political implications....A relatable vision of immigration that takes flight." —Kirkus Reviews

    "A mythic tale that celebrates ­Chinese North American heritage and culture....Snow’s cinematic ­vision is mesmerizing." —School Library Journal

    "[A] visually stunning solo picture book debut." —Publishers Weekly

    "An uplifting picture-book debut about intrinsic connections, both past and present." —Booklist

    Author

    Jess X. Snow (they/them) is a non-binary Asian Canadian artist, film director, and Pushcart-nominated poet whose work explores migration, surrealism, environmental justice, and intimacies across cultures and species. Their short films have screened in dozens of festivals across five continents. They are working to build a future where diasporic people of color see themselves on the big screen, city walls, and pages of children's books. By merging community arts activism, healing practices, and cinema in their stories, Jess hopes to encourage others to discover sanctuaries inside themselves. View titles by Jess X. Snow

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